Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMA: 2026-27 seasons, rules and map
FWC's 2026-27 brochure for Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMA sets 4 deer seasons (archery, crossbow, muzzleloading gun and general gun); archery is on October 17-November 15. The area is 28,038 acres of public hunting land in Osceola and Polk counties, a wildlife management area in FWC's northeast region. Around it, FWC estimates 2,859 deer were taken in DMU C2 in the 2023-24 season.
Data updated October 2026. Seasons and rules: FWC's 2026-27 regulations summary for the area. Harvest: FWC's statewide deer harvest survey by DMU, 2023-24.
Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMAOther FWC WMAsNational wildlife refugeLake or riverHighwayCounty line
| Size | 28,038 acres, measured on FWC's boundary (FWC's regional summary gives 21,028) |
|---|---|
| County | Osceola, Polk |
| Deer management unit | DMU C2, DMU B1 |
| Deer seasons | Archery, crossbow, muzzleloading gun and general gun |
| Archery | October 17-November 15 |
| General gun | December 5-February 21 |
| Spring turkey | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-April 25 |
| Legal deer | Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) OR a main beam length of 10 inches or more |
| Deer dogs | No deer dog season on FWC's summary |
| Also on the area | Small game, hog hunting, hog dogs, camping and fishing |
| Nearest towns | Dundee (9 mi), St. Cloud (9 mi) and Lake Hamilton (11 mi) |
When are the 2026-27 seasons on Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMA?
| Season | Dates, 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Archery Season | October 17-November 15 |
| Crossbow Season | November 16-20 |
| Muzzleloading Gun Season | November 21-December 4 |
| General Gun Season | December 5-February 21 |
| Spring Turkey Season | Youth Turkey: March 12-15; Spring Turkey: March 20-April 25 |
| Small Game Season | October 10-March 7 |
| Trapping | December 5-February 21 |
| Fishing and Frogging | Allowed year round. |
Legal deer: Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) OR a main beam length of 10 inches or more.
Source: FWC Kissimmee Chain of Lakes regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, read October 2026. The brochure and FWC's rules are the final word.
What quota permits does Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMA need?
- Quota permits are not required for this area.
What rules apply on Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMA?
Dogs
- The taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox or coyote with dogs (only as allowed during area seasons) is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking and behavior correction.
- Hunting deer and furbearers with dogs is prohibited.
- Wild hog may be hunted with dogs year round. Wild hog may be hunted with dogs at night.
- Dogs on leashes may be used for trailing wounded game.
- Dogs are allowed during periods or in areas closed to hunting with dogs but must be kept under physical restraint at all times.
Hunters, harvest reporting and other area rules
- Wild hog and gray squirrel may be hunted year-round.
- Wild hog and gray squirrel may only be hunted with a firearm or archery equipment from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset.
- Wild hog may be hunted with dogs at night.
- Hunting with a gun (including archery equipment) at night is prohibited.
- Hunters must log each harvested deer or turkey prior to moving it from the point of recovery and report any deer or turkey they harvest within 24 hours of recovery. See Florida Hunting Regulations handbook for deer and turkey harvest reporting instructions.
Guns
- The discharge of a firearm outside of periods open to hunting or in areas closed to hunting is prohibited per s. 790.15 FS.
- Hunting with centerfire rifles is prohibited on the Northwest Shore, East Shore Marshes, West Shore and Drasdo Units.
- Hunting at night with a gun is prohibited.
- Muzzleloading guns used for taking deer must be .30 caliber or larger, if firing a single bullet, or be 20 gauge or larger if firing 2 or more balls.
Access and vehicles
- Open to public access year round. Access is primarily by boat and is facilitated by boat ramps within the area (see map).
- Use of all-terrain vehicles, swamp buggies or tracked vehicles is prohibited.
- Parked vehicles may not obstruct a road, levee, maintenance berm, gate or water control structure.
- Use of airboats is prohibited in those areas posted as closed to airboat use.
- Persons may enter and exit Gardner Cobb Marsh from Lake Cypress, Lake Hatchineha, Lake Kissimmee and the C-36 canal, per 40E-7.
Camping
- Allowed on a first-come, first-served basis only at campsites designated by the South Florida Water Management District.
- Camping is primitive and camping areas will be designated by brown signs with white lettering that say, “Designated Primitive Camping Area.”
- Overnight camping or the presence of camping equipment shall be limited to 8 consecutive days.
Bag limits
- Deer - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area Limits - See statewide limits below. The take of antlerless deer is prohibited. B. Statewide limits - Annual limit 5 deer (only 2 of which may be antlerless), daily limit 2, possession limit 4. C. As part of the statewide annual deer limit, youth less than 16 years of age may harvest 1 deer annually not meeting antler point requirements but having at least 1 antler 5 inches or more in length.
- Wild hog - No size or bag limit.
- Turkey - No person shall exceed statewide bag limits. A. Area Limits - Daily limit 1. B. Statewide Limits - All fall seasons combined limit 2, spring season limit 2, daily limit 2, possession limit 2.
From FWC Kissimmee Chain of Lakes regulations summary, July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
How many deer are taken around Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMA?
FWC does not estimate harvest for each WMA in its statewide survey; it does for each deer management unit. Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMA lies in DMU C2 and DMU B1. FWC estimates 2,859 deer (1,984 bucks, 875 does) in DMU C2 in the 2023-24 season, 1,174 of them on public land.
Source: FWC 2023-24 Harvest Survey Results. FWC's per-area harvest figures are in its WMA harvest reports tool.
Which county is Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMA in?
| County | Acres of the area in it |
|---|---|
| Osceola County | 21,124 |
| Polk County | 6,914 |
Measured by FilledTag on FWC Wildlife Management Areas Florida (open data) and the U.S. Census Bureau 2024 county boundaries.
How do you get to Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMA?
Highways within 5 miles: FL 60 and FL 91. Nearest towns: Dundee (9 miles), St. Cloud (9 miles), Lake Hamilton (11 miles) and Lake Wales (11 miles). FWC's page for the area: Kissimmee Chain of Lakes.
The closest other Florida WMAs with a page here: Three Lakes WMA (Prairie Lakes Unit) (next to it), KICCO WMA (next to it), Creek Ranch WMA (next to it) and Kissimmee River PUA (next to it).
Questions hunters ask
When is deer season on Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMA in 2026-27?
Archery Season: October 17-November 15; Crossbow Season: November 16-20; Muzzleloading Gun Season: November 21-December 4; General Gun Season: December 5-February 21. From FWC's 2026-27 brochure for the area.
What deer are legal on Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMA?
Deer with at least 1 antler having 3 or more points (each point 1-inch or more in length) OR a main beam length of 10 inches or more, by FWC's brochure. Antlerless deer only where and when a season says so.
Can you hunt deer with dogs on Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMA?
The taking or pursuing of deer, wild hog, fox or coyote with dogs (only as allowed during area seasons) is prohibited unless each dog is equipped and monitored with devices that allow remote tracking and behavior correction.
Do you need a quota permit for Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMA?
Quota permits are not required for this area.
What county is Kissimmee Chain of Lakes WMA in?
Osceola County (21,124 acres) and Polk County (6,914 acres), measured on FWC's boundary.
Get a Florida hunt plan when they open
Florida plans are not open yet. They are coming soon. Join the waiting list; the first 50 hunters get one plan free.
Use the map while you wait for your plan.
You need a hunting license, a management area permit and any quota permit the area lists, plus deer and turkey permits as FWC requires. Statewide WMA basics. FilledTag is not part of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; seasons and rules are copied from FWC's brochure, maps from FWC's WMA layer, each with its source above.